Well & Truly commented Steve W! Australia and Steve W are blessed to have Mathew H and Ricky P in form, especially in this series against their most feared opponents in World Cricket-India! Wow! Have things really changed since the World Cup this year!!! If only Sachin had fired at MCG when we had the Aussies on the mat!, that would have sent Steve W back to the prayer hall for more of the blessings or to his red hanky!
Hi Steve, Ahead of your last test, I wanted to wish you the best not just in the test but in your life ahead. I hope you are appointed Ambassador to India someday.
Ponting and Hayden have had a great couple of years. But with two away tours in the subcontinent and the ICC in England, their ability to survive swing and spin will be tested. Hayden has demonstrated capability against spin but Ponting has to show that he can survive Murali, Jayasuriya,Dharmasena and Chandana in their own backyard. (while being captain) Hayden did very well in India and against the spinners, but will he survive Kandy and Colombo and the real test of English conditions. Then there is India again.
I bet you $10 that Ponting has an '04 test average under 35. And Hayden will struggle in England. Also testing time for Martyn, although Clarke, Bevan and Katich can prove their ability to play spin.
Dear Editor, I fail to understand why isn't there any mention of the poor umpiring decisions. Both Ponting and Hayden should have been given out before they had completed their centuries. They don't deserve the applause that they have received. Instead the umpires deserve a special mention. I wonder whether any team that visits Australia plays against 11 players and 2 umpires. That's what has been happening time and again including the last tour of India.
RE:Umpiring decisions
by Aridaman Tripathi on Dec 30, 2003 07:57 PM
I agree. I have seen better umpiring at gali cricket than was at display in Melbourne. Steve should rather feel blessed to have Shpherd and Bowden on field. And Hayden and Ponting can apply for the post of goalkeeper in the Hockey team. But I disagree that this is a problem only with Australia. Worldwide the 'neutral' umpires tend to support the home team. And as they are 'neutral' their decisions cannot be questioned. And that ICC is not at all bothered about this can be confirmed by the fact that a certain Asoka DeSilva seems to be the busiest umpire on the circuit. What is really surprising is that the media is so quiet about this. May be thay feel that injustice done to Sachin is injustice but that done to Chopra is not.
Dear Steve Waugh, The transition from Steve to Stephen was discreet, nevertheless perceptible. For a number of days I confused the Stephen with Stephen Fleming. Australia stopped playing cricket on the cricketing field a long time back, today they play the game on print media the audio and the visual media, they play the game through their commentators, their former captains, coaches etc. If you think that Australia's performance on the 2nd Day of the Boxing day test match was the best, I suggest you take some memory enhancing therapy. Just order to score a verbal point on the opposition you have belittled many a fine performances by truely great Australian Players and Teams and Captains of yesteryears. (If it were a personal comment-you should put it in perspective rather than hastening an analysis) What would you do for a win? 6 Indian wickets falling in a spate of 16 runs is not new (tax your memory) and it does not surprise me, what surprises me is that it surprises you and you want to take credit for what has happened quite regularly with Indian batting lineups. You can go and win all the matches but I hope your Old Australian players are as understanding. Regards Nakul
